A person may desire a Church with mostly perfect people, but the Church is made up of broken, fallen people: Yes, people like you and me. The beauty of it is that God gracefully accepts us. May we gracefully accept one another and resist the urge to purge the Church and the world before God does.

The final judgment belongs to God and God alone. I am thankful for that. After all, who among us would want the person that dislikes us most to be our final judge? If God is merciful with us, who is to say God is not merciful with others? The Psalmist (25:7) says, “Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness’ sake, O Lord! (NRSV)